Shamontiel

He Liked Me, But I Liked His Friend

Two friends and I were plotting on how we were going to spend New Year’s Eve. We’d narrowed it down to a couple of clubs and got ready to go. Our hair was done. Our outfits were carefully chosen. We were ready to hit the Chicago streets and enjoy ourselves. Shortly after arriving at the […]

Is the ‘Silly Face’ Photo Needed or Overrated?

“Tall, dark, and handsome” are a constant descriptor I hear when it comes to the dating scene. However, there are two other descriptors that will make me do a double-take from first glance: funny (for example, silly face photos) + handyman. Any man who is the equivalent of Overton Wakefield Jones (from the sitcom “Living Single”) […]

Before You Date Him, See What Your Dog Has To Say

When my parents received an invitation to my cousin’s wedding, they were quite pleased to find out she was getting married. (Her then-boyfriend is a super nice guy, and I was happy for her too.) While they scheduled their visit to drive out of town for the wedding, I was even giddier than they were. […]

15 Kisses To Find ‘The One’

If someone were to ask me, “How many dates have you been on?” I’m not sure I’d be able to answer correctly. Even with a pen and paper, I might be able to provide a ballpark figure to find the one. But if someone were to ask me, “How many people have you dated in […]

Using Your Pet Pics All Wrong

Imagine hanging out with a vegan at a steakhouse restaurant. Picture yourself sitting in a church pew with an atheist. Envision yourself planning a wedding for someone who thinks marriage is a bad idea. Invite someone to a kids’ birthday party who is annoyed by children. All four of these people could be fun to […]

How My Dog Is Winning People Over and Making Me More Socially Awkward

I don’t know how I slept through the news. I had no idea that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi got bumped out of the top 10 most popular dog breeds for 2020 by Dachshunds. I barely paid attention to this annual list, outside of knowing Labrador Retrievers were undefeated for decades. As a professional dog walker […]

When Landlords Are Pro-Pet or Anti-Pet for Tenants

Pet owners who are house hunting may have a tough road ahead of them. Before buying a condo, one of the most common blocks I ran up against was a no-pet rule. Although the bylaws for the unit I wanted to buy allowed pets for owners only, the Rules and Regulations banned pets altogether for […]

Online Dating and Friendship Pacing

Imagine telling Cupid right before he strikes the arrow that you’re just looking for “new friends,” “hookups,” or “short-term dating.” No one can control the way a relationship works out for those two people, but is it not peculiar to tell the “god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection” that you’re just “meh” when […]

When Pet Allergies Get in the Way of Online Dating

Dating someone with pet allergies doesn’t have to be ruff! National Pet Day has been heavenly for Dog Twitter today. However, Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Yang brought up a sore spot for some dog lovers: pet allergies. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, in the United States, “as many as three in […]

Melting Kitty Doesn’t Do Texting-Ships and Neither Should You

“Good morning, Melting Kitty” I looked over at my phone and couldn’t hide the smile on my face. I think pet names are stupid. The only person who ever got away with them was my grandfather, who called me “Da Punkin” for my entire life. Other than him, I would correct people fairly quickly on […]